As our banana boat pulled up to the shore, the family we would be spending the next 24 hours with smiled and waved cheerfully at us. This was my first time going into a Papua New Guinean village and spending the night. I didn't know at all what to expect. Though the family barily new us, they welcomed us in with open arms. They sat us down and gave us flower laeas. The village elder spoke and gave us a warm welcome. Then they showed us to a very well built structure of bamboo and palm leaves that they had made just for us.
We spent our time there playing with the children, sitting with the adults, and just having them show us their island and their way of life. The language barrier made it difficult to communicate very deeply, but the warmth and the joy was easily felt. For example, at dinner time, they told us that they hadn't had much money for food recently, but they insisted that my team eat first and if there were any leftovers, they would eat. It was heartbreaking to hear how this wonderful family was struggling with as basic a need as food. But it amazed me to see that, in the midst of true hardship, I found the Papua New Guineans to be so very kind, welcoming, hospitable, and generous.